Serviceable replacement spindle

ABSTRACT

A replacement spindle that can be easily removed for service or replacement. The spindle may have a threaded projection corresponding to a threaded bushing, which may be secured within an axle tube. The spindle may be screwed into place for use, then unscrewed for service or replacement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Cross Reference

Not Applicable.

Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a replacement spindle and moreparticularly, but not by way of limitation, to a replacement spindlethat is serviceable and a method of installation and removal of thespindle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Truck and trailer spindles withstand significant wear during use and areoften subject to failure. Such failures may be dangerous, as the firstsign of spindle failure may be the loss of a wheel while the vehicle isin motion.

An original spindle may be integrally formed with or attached to theaxle. When a spindle fails, however, rather than replacing the entireaxle, just the damaged spindle may be removed and replaced by cuttingthe original spindle off the axle tube and attaching a replacementspindle. The typical method of replacement involves heating up thecollar of the replacement spindle to make it expand, sliding it on theexisting axle tube, and letting the collar cool and contract, thussecuring the replacement spindle to the axle tube via thermalinterference fit. The junctions are then welded, typically on eitherside of the collar.

The biggest drawback with regards to this method is that it is notreversible. The replacement spindle cannot be easily removed from theaxle for service or replacement. Many spindle failures could be avoidedthrough proper maintenance of the spindle, while timely replacement ofdamaged spindles may prevent accidents due to catastrophic failure ofthe spindles during use.

Based on the foregoing, it is desirable to provide a serviceablereplacement spindle.

It is further desirable for the replacement spindle to be easilyremovable for service or replacement.

It is further desirable for the replacement spindle to be more securelyattached to the axle than current replacement spindles.

It is further desirable for the replacement spindle to be easilyattachable to the axle for on-site installation of the replacementspindle without the need for removing or otherwise dismantling the axle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In general, in a first aspect, the invention relates to a spindleassembly for use with an axle tube, the spindle assembly comprising: aspindle body; an exteriorly threaded cylinder extending coaxiallyoutward from the spindle body; and an interiorly threaded bushingcapable of being secured within the axle tube, where the interiorlythreaded bushing corresponds to the exteriorly threaded cylinder suchthat the spindle body is capable of being secured to the interiorlythreaded bushing by screwing the exteriorly threaded cylinder into theinteriorly threaded bushing.

The spindle body may have a threaded end, where the exteriorly threadedcylinder extends from the spindle body opposite the threaded end. Thespindle body may comprise: the threaded end; a first bearing journaladjacent the threaded end; a spacer adjacent the first bearing journal;a second bearing journal adjacent the spacer; and a collar adjacent thesecond bearing journal, where the exteriorly threaded cylinder isadjacent the collar. The threaded end, the first bearing journal, thespacer, the second bearing journal, the collar, and the exteriorlythreaded cylinder may be coaxial. The threaded end, the first bearingjournal, the spacer, the second bearing journal, the collar, and theexteriorly threaded cylinder may have an axial bore therethrough.

The spindle assembly may further comprise a collar, where the exteriorlythreaded cylinder is adjacent the collar. The collar may have a flangeand the flange may have a diameter generally the same as the axle tube.The flange may have an outer edge with a bevel. The interiorly threadedbushing may likewise have an outer edge with a bevel.

In a second aspect, the invention relates to a spindle for use with anaxle tube, the spindle comprising a spindle body with a threaded end andan exteriorly threaded cylinder extending coaxially outward from thespindle body opposite the threaded end. The spindle body may comprise:the threaded end; a first bearing journal adjacent the threaded end; aspacer adjacent the first bearing journal; a second bearing journaladjacent the spacer; and a collar adjacent the second bearing journal,where the exteriorly threaded cylinder is adjacent the collar. Thethreaded end, the first bearing journal, the spacer, the second bearingjournal, the collar, and the exteriorly threaded cylinder may be coaxialand/or may have an axial bore therethrough. The spindle may furthercomprise a collar, where: the exteriorly threaded cylinder is adjacentthe collar; the collar has a flange; the flange has a diameter generallythe same as the axle tube; and the flange has an outer edge with abevel.

In a third aspect, the invention relates to a method of replacing aspindle, the method comprising: cutting an existing spindle from an axletube; sliding an interiorly threaded bushing inside the axle tube; andscrewing a correspondingly threaded end of a spindle body into thebushing. The method may further comprise beveling an outer edge of theaxle tube and welding the spindle body to the axle tube by applying aweld in a V-shaped space between the bevel on the outer edge of the axletube and a corresponding bevel on the spindle body. The method mayfurther comprise removing the spindle body from the axle tube byremoving the weld and unscrewing the spindle body from the bushing.

The method may further comprise measuring an interior diameter of theaxle tube and turning the bushing on a lathe to match the interiordiameter of the axle tube such that the bushing fits snugly within theaxle tube after being slid therein. The method may further comprise:placing a jig over the spindle body; securing the jig to the axle tube;tack welding the bushing to the inside of the axle tube; removing thejig and the spindle body; fully welding the jig to the axle tube; andrescrewing the threaded end of the spindle body into the bushing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an expanded side view of the replacement spindle of thepresent invention, including the threaded bushing and the axle tube;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the replacement spindle in place on the axletube, prior to welding;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the replacement spindle inplace on the axle tube;

FIG. 4 is a side view of an original spindle in place on the axle tube;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the axle tube with the original spindleremoved;

FIG. 6 is a partially cut away side view of the threaded bushing beinginstalled within the axle tube, as described below;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of the axle tube with the threadedbushing in place therein; and

FIG. 8 is a side view of the replacement spindle in place on the axletube, with the weld in place.

Other advantages and features will be apparent from the followingdescription and from the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The devices and methods discussed herein are merely illustrative ofspecific manners in which to make and use this invention and are not tobe interpreted as limiting in scope.

While the devices and methods have been described with a certain degreeof particularity, it is to be noted that many modifications may be madein the details of the construction and the arrangement of the devicesand components without departing from the spirit and scope of thisdisclosure. It is understood that the devices and methods are notlimited to the embodiments set forth herein for purposes ofexemplification.

In general, in a first aspect, the invention relates to a serviceablereplacement spindle for use with a truck, trailer, or other vehicle, aswell as a method of installing and removing the replacement spindle. Thesame replacement spindle and method may be used with any spindle,whether on a vehicle or on other equipment or machinery. The replacementspindle may be made of any desired material or combinations of material.In particular, the replacement spindle may be made of the same materialas the original spindle and/or the axle tube.

As shown in the drawings, the serviceable replacement spindle maycomprise a spindle body 1 and a threaded bushing 2. The replacementspindle may be used with an existing axle tube 3. The spindle body 1 mayinclude typical elements of a spindle, such as a wear ring collar/spacer4, bearing journals 5 and 6, a spacer 7, and a threaded end 8, which mayhave a keyway 9 for a locking device. These elements may have an axialbore therethrough or may have a solid center, as desired. The wear ringcollar 4 may be separate from the rest of the spindle body 1 or may beintegrally formed therewith, as shown.

Unlike a typical spindle, the spindle body 1 may have a threadedcylinder 10, as shown in FIG. 1. The threaded cylinder 10 may be coaxialwith the remainder of the spindle body 1 and may be located opposite thethreaded end 8. The threaded cylinder 10 may have an axial boretherethrough or may have a solid center, as with the rest of the spindlebody 1. The threaded cylinder 10 may have a smaller diameter than thecollar 4. If the collar 4 is integrally formed with the rest of thespindle body 1, the threaded cylinder 10 may project coaxiallytherefrom. If the collar 4 is separate, the threaded cylinder 10 mayproject coaxially from the bearing journal 5. The threaded cylinder 10may be threaded on its exterior, as shown.

The threaded bushing 2 may be generally cylindrical and may specificallybe tubular, with an axial bore therethrough. The threaded bushing 2 maybe threaded on its interior with the threads matching those of thethreaded cylinder 10, such that the threaded cylinder 10 may be threadedinto the threaded bushing 2. The threaded bushing 2 may be capable ofbeing turned down with a lathe to have a desired exterior diameter. Thethreaded bushing 2 may have a bevel 11 along the edge of one face, asshown.

The method of installing the replacement spindle is shown in FIGS. 4through 8. First, the existing spindle 12 may be cut from the axle tube3, such as along the dashed line shown in FIG. 4. Next, the axle tube 3may be faced and a bevel 13 may be placed along the outer edge, as shownin FIG. 5. The wear ring collar 4 may have a flange 14 with acorresponding bevel 15. The flange 14 and the axle tube 3 may have thesame diameter, such that when placed together, the bevels 13 and 15 mayform a V-shape, as shown in FIG. 2.

After beveling the axle tube 3, the next step may be measuring theinterior diameter of the axle tube 3. The threaded bushing 2 may beplaced on a lathe and turned down to the same diameter, such that thethreaded bushing 2 may be snugly placed within the axle tube 3. Thethreaded bushing 2 may be inserted into the axle tube 3 with its bevel11 facing toward the opening of the axle tube 3, as shown in FIG. 6. Thethreaded bushing 2 may be inserted fully into the axle tube 3, such thatit is spaced from the opening thereto. The spindle body 1 may be screwedinto the threaded bushing 2 and a jig 16 may be slid over the spindlebody 1 and attached to the brake plate, as shown in FIG. 6. This mayensure that the threaded bushing 2 is properly centered within the axletube 3. The threaded bushing 2 may be tack welded to the interior of theaxle tube 3 through one of more holes in the jig 16. The jig 16 and thespindle body 1 may be removed, and the threaded bushing 2 may be fullywelded within the axle tube 3 along the bevel 11. Weld 17 may be seen inFIG. 7. Once the threaded bushing 2 is secured in place within the axletube 3, the spindle body 1 may be screwed into place, as shown in FIG.2. Weld 18 may be applied in the V formed between bevels 13 and 15 tofurther secure the replacement spindle in place.

To remove the replacement spindle for service or replacement, the usermay simply axle grind weld 18 off and unscrew the spindle body 1. A newspindle body 1 may be screwed into the existing threaded bushing 2 and anew weld 18 may be applied, thus greatly minimizing the time and effortrequired to replace the spindle.

Whereas, the devices and methods have been described in relation to thedrawings and claims, it should be understood that other and furthermodifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be madewithin the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A spindle assembly for use with an axle tube, thespindle assembly comprising: a spindle body; an exteriorly threadedcylinder extending coaxially outward from the spindle body; and aninteriorly threaded bushing capable of being secured within the axletube, where the interiorly threaded bushing corresponds to theexteriorly threaded cylinder such that the spindle body is capable ofbeing secured to the interiorly threaded bushing by screwing theexteriorly threaded cylinder into the interiorly threaded bushing. 2.The spindle assembly of claim 1 where the spindle body has a threadedend, where the exteriorly threaded cylinder extends from the spindlebody opposite the threaded end.
 3. The spindle assembly of claim 2 wherethe spindle body comprises: a first bearing journal adjacent thethreaded end; a spacer adjacent the first bearing journal; a secondbearing journal adjacent the spacer; and a collar adjacent the secondbearing journal, where the exteriorly threaded cylinder is adjacent thecollar; where the threaded end, the first bearing journal, the spacer,the second bearing journal, the collar, and the exteriorly threadedcylinder are coaxial.
 4. The spindle assembly of claim 3 where thethreaded end, the first bearing journal, the spacer, the second bearingjournal, the collar, and the exteriorly threaded cylinder have an axialbore therethrough.
 5. The spindle assembly of claim 1 further comprisinga collar, where the exteriorly threaded cylinder is adjacent the collar.6. The spindle assembly of claim 5 where the collar has a flange andwhere the flange has a diameter generally the same as a diameter of theaxle tube.
 7. The spindle assembly of claim 6 where the flange has anouter edge with a bevel.
 8. The spindle assembly of claim 1 where theinteriorly threaded bushing has an outer edge with a bevel.
 9. A methodof replacing a spindle, the method comprising: cutting an existingspindle from an axle tube; sliding an interiorly threaded bushing insidethe axle tube; and screwing a correspondingly threaded end of a spindlebody into the bushing.
 10. The method of claim 9, the method furthercomprising: beveling an outer edge of the axle tube; and welding thespindle body to the axle tube by applying a weld in a V-shaped spaceformed between the bevel on the outer edge of the axle tube and acorresponding bevel on the spindle body.
 11. The method of claim 10, themethod further comprising removing the spindle body from the axle tubeby removing the weld and unscrewing the spindle body from the bushing.12. The method of claim 9, the method further comprising: measuring aninterior diameter of the axle tube; and turning the bushing on a latheto match the interior diameter of the axle tube such that the bushingfits within the axle tube after being slid therein; where the measuringand turning steps are performed after cutting the existing spindle fromthe axle tube but before sliding the interiorly threaded bushing insidethe axle tube.
 13. The method of claim 9, the method further comprising:placing a jig over the spindle body; securing the jig to the axle tube;tack welding the bushing to the inside of the axle tube; removing thejig and the spindle body; fully welding the bushing to the axle tube;and rescrewing the threaded end of the spindle body into the bushing.